Abstract:
A workpiece cooling system and method are disclosed. Transferring heat away from a workpiece, such as a semiconductor wafer during ion implantation, is essential. Typically this heat is transferred to the workpiece support, or platen. In one embodiment, the desired operating temperature is determined. Based on this, a gas having a vapor pressure within a desired range, such as 10-50 torr, is selected. This range is required to be sufficiently low so as to be less than the clamping force. This condensible gas is used to fill the volume between the workpiece and the workpiece support. Heat transfer occurs based on adsorption and desorption, thereby offering improved transfer properties than traditionally employed gases, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, argon and air.
Abstract:
A method of plasma doping includes generating a plasma comprising dopant ions proximate to a platen supporting a substrate in a plasma chamber. The platen is biased with a bias voltage waveform having a negative potential that attracts ions in the plasma to the substrate for plasma doping. At least one sensor measuring data related to charging conditions favorable for forming an electrical discharge is monitored. At least one plasma process parameter is modified in response to the measured data, thereby reducing a probability of forming an electrical discharge.
Abstract:
A plasma doping apparatus includes a plasma source that generates a pulsed plasma. A platen supports a substrate proximate to the plasma source for plasma doping. A structure absorbs a film which provides a plurality of neutrals when desorbed. A bias voltage power supply generates a bias voltage waveform having a negative potential that attracts ions in the plasma to the substrate for plasma doping. A radiation source irradiates the film absorbed on the structure, thereby desorbing the film and generating a plurality of neutrals that scatter ions from the plasma while the ions are being attracted to the substrate, thereby performing conformal plasma doping.
Abstract:
Techniques for temperature-controlled ion implantation are disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the techniques may be realized as an apparatus for temperature- controlled ion implantation. The apparatus may comprise at least one thermal sensor adapted to measure a temperature of a wafer during an ion implantation process inside an end station of an ion implanter. The apparatus may also comprise a thermal conditioning unit coupled to the end station. The apparatus may further comprise a controller in communication with the thermal sensor and the thermal conditioning unit, wherein the controller compares the measured temperature to a desired wafer temperature and causes the thermal conditioning unit to adjust the temperature of the wafer based upon the comparison.
Abstract:
A method for fabricating a semiconductor-based device includes providing a doped semiconductor substrate, introducing a second dopant into the substrate to define a pn junction, and introducing a neutralizing species into the substrate in the neighborhood of the pn junction to reduce a capacitance associated with the pn junction. A semiconductor-based device includes a semiconductor substrate having first and second dopants, and a neutralizing species. The first and second dopants define a pn junction, and the neutralizing species neutralizes a portion of the first dopant in the neighborhood of the pn junction to decrease a capacitance associated with the pn junction.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for manufacturing a vacuum device, such as an electron emitter, that includes a foil exit window placed over and joined to a support grid. In one particular method, the vacuum chamber of an election emitter has a thin foil forming an exit window at one end. The thin foil may be titanium or any suitable material and the foil will typically enlarge during a bonding process that attaches the foil to the support grid. In one manufacturing process, the support grid is provided with a surface that has contours, typically being smooth recessed surfaces, that the foil, once enlarged, can lie against as the vacuum pulls the foil against the grid.
Abstract:
A method of plasma doping includes generating a plasma comprising dopant ions proximate to a platen supporting a substrate in a plasma chamber. The platen is biased with a bias voltage waveform having a negative potential that attracts ions in the plasma to the substrate for plasma doping. At least one sensor measuring data related to charging conditions favorable for forming an electrical discharge is monitored. At least one plasma process parameter is modified in response to the measured data, thereby reducing a probability of forming an electrical discharge.
Abstract:
An approach for providing two-dimensional uniformity correction for ion beam assisted etching is described. In one embodiment, there is a method for ion beam etching a substrate. In this embodiment, an ion implant dose map containing a correlation between implant dose rate and etch rate is retrieved. In addition, a recipe that contains values for ion beam parameters used in the ion beam etching of the substrate is obtained. An ion beam is directed at the surface of the substrate and the surface is etched with the ion beam according to the ion implant dose map and the values of the ion beam parameters in the recipe. The etching of the surface is controlled in accordance with the ion implant dose map and the ion beam parameter values.
Abstract:
A method and apparatuses for providing improved electrical contact to a semiconductor wafer during plasma processing applications are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus (100) includes a wafer platen (106) for supporting the wafer; and a plurality of electrical contact elements (120), each of the plurality of electrical contact elements (1'2O) are configured to provide a path for supplying a bias voltage from a bias power supply to the wafer (102) on the wafer platen (106). The plurality of electrical contact elements (120) are also geometrically arranged such that at least one electrical contact element contacts an inner surface region (114) (e.g., region between a center of wafer and a distance approximately half of the radius of the wafer) and at least one electrical contact element contacts an outer annular surface region (116) (e.g., region between an outer edge of wafer and a distance approximately half of the radius of the wafer).
Abstract:
A technique for low-temperature ion implantation is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus for low-temperature ion implantation. The apparatus may comprise a pre-chill station located in proximity to an end station in an ion implanter. The apparatus may also comprise a cooling mechanism within the pre-chill station. The apparatus may further comprise a loading assembly coupled to the pre-chill station and the end station. The apparatus may additionally comprise a controller in communication with the loading assembly and the cooling mechanism to coordinate loading a wafer into the pre-chill station, cooling the wafer down to a predetermined temperature range, and loading the cooled wafer into the end station where the cooled wafer undergoes an ion implantation process.